Aderans Research Institute, Inc.

3M Innovative Properties Company

Cell Constructs I, LLC

Thomas H Barrows

Matthew T Scholz

Stephen A Cochran

Myhanh T Truong

Bryan T Marshall

Terry W Lewis

Kenneth Justin Washenik

Preeti MacIntyre

A hydrogel that comprises denatured human hair biomolecules intermolecularly crosslinked with disulfide bonds to form a hydrogel. The hydrogel may be prepared by reduction and denaturation of hair to provide keratins and other hair biomolecules that are crosslinked by the disulfide bonds to provide a firm, flexible, and useful biomaterial.

Biomaterials made from human hair

The present invention provides a hair graft comprising (a) tissue engineered skin comprising a tissue engineered epidermal layer, a tissue engineered dermal layer, and hair follicle progenitor cells and (b) a scaffold. The invention also provides methods of making and using the hair grafts of the present invention.

Hair follicle graft from tissue engineered skin

The present invention relates to an improved scaffold which is constructed to mimic the architecture of the native hair follicle. The present invention also relates to the use of specific compositions and methods of manufacture to produce scaffolds that combine biocompatibility with the desired rates of bioabsorption. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a biomimetic hair follicle graft and a method for seeding the graft with cells and implanting the graft into the skin where the growth of a new hair shaft is desired. A further embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for hair multiplication in which cells are multiplied in culture and aliquoted into a multitude of bioabsorbable scaffolds in combination with cultured keratinocytes or other allogenic cells.

Tissue engineered biomimetic hair follicle graft

Porous, bioabsorbable scaffolds for tissue engineering of human hair follicles, methods for their manufacture and methods of their use in creating new hair.

Scaffolds for tissue engineered hair

This invention is related to an adhesive composition which may be used to bond or seal tissue in vivo. The adhesive composition is readily formed from a two component mixture which includes a first part of a protein, preferably a serum albumin protein, in an aqueous buffer having a pH in the range of about 8.0-11.0 and a second part of a water-compatible or water-soluble bifunctional crosslinking agent. When the two parts of the mixture are combined, the mixture is initially a liquid which cures in vivo on the surface of tissue in less than about one minute to give a strong, flexible, pliant substantive composition which bonds to the tissue and is absorbed in about four to sixty days. The adhesive composition may be used either to bond tissue, to seal tissue or to prevent tissue adhesions caused by surgery.

Adhesive sealant composition

The present invention provides a filamentary structure for the introduction of agents into a living host, comprising a filament comprising a solid core and a porous sheath which coats at least a portion of the solid core. When the filamentary structure is to be permanently implanted into a living host, both the solid core and the porous sheath are bioabsorbable. When the filamentary structure is to be temporarily implanted into the skin of a living host to deliver agents, such as cells, therein, the porous sheath is preferably bioabsorbable but the core need only be biocompatable, not bioabsorabable. The devices and methods of the present invention enable one to regenerate hair follicles, to introduce genetically altered cells or encapsulated cells to a living host transdermally, to regenerate bones, and to deliver drugs transdermally.

Filamentary means for introducing agents into tissue of a living host

This invention relates to bioabsorbable fibers, comprising a semicrystalline fiber-forming core polymer and an amorphous sheath polymer, wherein the core polymer and sheath polymer are separately melt extruded and connected to one another through an adhesive bond. The present invention also relates to reinforced composites of the bioabsorbable fibers, and to devices comprising the reinforced composites. The devices are suitable for in vivo implantation. Some embodiments of the present devices can also support high loads, making then useful for fracture fixation and spinal fusion. The invention also relates to methods of making the various materials of the invention.

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Austell, GA, United States of America

Thomas H Barrows